RAI (2014)

"VALIANT FIRST begins in force this May with an all-new vision of the future in RAI #1 - a new monthly series from comics superstars Matt Kindt and Clayton Crain! The year is 4001 A.D. - led by the artificial intelligence called 'Father,' the island nation of Japan has expanded out of the Pacific and into geosynchronous orbit with the ravaged Earth below. With billions to feed and protect, it has fallen to one solitary guardian to enforce the law of Father's empire - the mysterious folk hero known as Rai. They say he can appear out of nowhere. They say he is a spirit the ghost of Japan. But when the first murder in a thousand years threatens to topple Father's benevolent reign, Rai will be forced to confront the true face of a nation transformed and his own long-lost humanity "

"Discover the astonishing world of the 41st century! This May, Matt Kindt and Clayton Crain's one-of-a-kind adventure proves that there is nothing else in comics like RAI! In the far future of 4001 A.D., Japan is a single endless city-state, governed by a benevolent artificial intelligence and policed by a one lone enforcer - the mysterious Rai, spirit guardian of the rising sun. But, soon, a single bullet will shatter the peace it has taken 2,000 years to secure "

"Nothing is what it seems not even yourself... A seemingly random murder-the first in a thousand years-is unraveling the mysteries at the heart of Rai's very existence. As the country of Japan completes another orbit around 41st century Earth, Rai, its sole protector, turns his investigation toward two figures he never questioned before: Father, the A.I. that controls Japan and himself."

"The most daring comic book launch of the year unleashes a cascade of shocking revelations as Rai rockets toward its second arc! In 4001 A.D., as the nation of Japan soars above the Earth, Rai unravels the mystery of the first murder in a thousand years and discovers his own profound connection to the crime. Everything Rai knows - about his existence, about his country, and about the benevolent Father he serves - is about to be thrown out of orbit. Do not miss this masterpiece in the making Matt Kindt and Clayton Crain's RAI!"

"The critically acclaimed, fan-favorite series is BACK! New York Times best-selling writer Matt Kindt and superstar artist Clayton Crain return for the second staggering volume of RAI! In the aftermath of the devastating battle for 41st century Japan, Rai must pick up the pieces as he grapples with the startling truth about Father and his purpose. Will Rai remain a champion of the people or will he succumb to the same fate as the men who carried the mantle before him? And why is everyone looking at him so strangely? Go back to the future as Kindt and Crain crack open a brand new chapter for Valiant's smash-hit ongoing series!"

"As 41st century Japan spirals into chaos, will Rai protect his nation or help tear it down? As Rai grapples with a life beyond the control of Father, new feelings distract him from uprisings, secret armies, and a bomb that could all doom the mission to free New Japan before it even begins! Matt Kindt and Clayton Crain's astonishing saga of the year 4001 rockets toward a terrible reckoning as 'Battle for New Japan' continues!"

"'Battle for New Japan' explodes with another pulse-pounding chapter by New York Times best-selling writer Matt Kindt (THE VALIANT, Mind MGMT) and featuring fully painted artwork by superstar artist Clayton Crain (X-Force)! Romance threatens to destroy a necessary peace between Raddies and robots as Rai builds his army for the final assault on Father! Plus: a glimpse of Earth 4001 and the secret weapon hiding out on the planet's surface that could be the key to taking back New Japan!"

"'The Battle for New Japan' erupts into all-out war! Rai has raised an army of former enemies and reluctant allies all in the name of one thing - freedom! It's the final fight between Father and his prodigal son, except there is no coming back from this as the outcome could spell the end of not just New Japan, but all of Earth!"

"'ENDING HISTORY': PART 1-ALL-NEW ARC! JUMP ON BOARD HERE! As history falls apart around her, only one man can help Neela Sethi save Ivar's life - and time itself, and that man is Ivar! Wait... what?! Can Neela teach a new Timewalker the ropes of time travel as time collapses? Or will the universe finally meet its doom? Find out as Harvey Award-nominated artist Pere Perez joins New York Times best-selling writer Fred Van Lente for ENDING HISTORY!"

"New costume! New mission! RAI REBORN! A fallen, broken, and depowered Rai finds himself captured by a mysterious and savage tribe on Earth! With his friends being hunted and tortured back in New Japan, Rai will find help in an unexpected yet familiar face who knows a thing or two about survival. Matt Kindt and Clayton Crain continue their acclaimed run with a surprise appearance as 'The Orphan' marches toward a coming conflict for the united heroes of 4001 A.D. "

"Acclaimed writer Matt Kindt and superstar artist Clayton Crain bring 'THE ORPHAN' to a brutal boiling point! Now that Rai's allies back on New Japan have reunited, they must figure out a plan to retrieve their friend and topple Father's rule once and for all. Meanwhile, Rai has his work cut out for him on Earth as his past sins come back to haunt him. Luckily for our hero, justice is Eternal..."

"'THE ORPHAN' ends here with an explosive finale and a shocking new direction for New Japan's fallen guardian! After being exiled to Earth by Father, Rai has survived on his own, finding new friends and discovering some familiar faces. Now, fully restored and ready for battle, Rai is ready to return to New Japan and rescue the allies he left behind! The next chapter for the future of the Valiant Universe starts here as acclaimed creators Matt Kindt and Clayton Crain present the can't-miss finale of RAI's latest volume!"

"ALL-NEW ARC! ALL-NEW JUMPING-ON POINT! THE BATTLE FOR 4001 A.D. CONTINUES HERE! As 4001 A.D. teeters on the brink, discover the intertwined origins of New Japan's very fi rst Rai and his creator, Father - the despotic artificial intelligence that would one day threaten us all. And as the truth behind these long-lost beginnings resurfaces, so too will the questions that have eluded mankind for nearly two millennia. How did New Japan come to orbit Earth? Who created Father? And what happened to the nine previous Rai that once swore allegiance to his empire? The architect behind the summer's most anticipated crossover event, Matt Kindt (DIVINITY II), joins forces with all-star artist CAFU (IMPERIUM) to uncover the never-before-told story of New Japan's rise to power and reveals just how the Valiant Universe of today became the 4001 A.D. of tomorrow!"

"For the first time ever, witness the violent foundation of Father's space-born utopia of New Japan and, with it, the shocking genesis of the line of guardians that bear the name Rai! Born and bred by Father to enforce peace at any cost, follow the first Rai and his successors across two millennia as they chronicle the history of 4001 A.D. - from the launch of New Japan into orbit to the latest Rai's crusade to bring it crashing back down to Earth! Valiant mastermind Matt Kindt (4001 A.D.) and visionary artist CAFU (UNITY) bring the 41st century to life with a another, all-new jumping-on point revealing the sinister history of Father's empire before the dawn of 4001 A.D.!"

"The rise of New Japan's greatest champion! As Father erects his floating kingdom of New Japan, nothing will stop him from asserting complete control over the millions who now fall under his gaze! And to ensure total subjugation, he will create the greatest 'spirit guardian' New Japan has ever known - the fourth Rai! But as Father unleashes his most powerful warrioryet, has even he gone too far in his bid for absolute power? Join 4001 A.D. mastermind Matt Kindt and fan-favorite artist CAFU as they continue to unearth the missing links connecting the world of today with 4001 A.D.'s empire of tomorrow!"

"4001 A.D. TIE-IN! Rai locked in fatal combat against the true protector of New Japan? As New Japan's current protector, Aboto, slips beyond Father's control, nothing can stop the unhinged warrior from destroying the orbiting nation from the inside out. To defeat this monster of his own making, Father must create his last and greatest Rai! But when Father's fallen son and newest champion clash in the the streets of their sovereign nation, what dark information will Aboto bring into the light of day and how will it fuel the flames of rebellion that await in the year 4001 A.D.? The future as we know it takes its final horrifying shape here as 4001 A.D. mastermind Matt Kindt and fan-favorite artist CAFU reveal the final puzzle piece behind Valiant's summer blockbuster event!"